Separating Sunscreen Facts from Fiction

[ski diva]

Found this on CNN about common sunscreen "myths", and thought it might be helpful:

Myth No. 1: Sunscreen is all you need to stay safe.

Reality: "Sunscreen is only one part of the sun-protection picture," explains Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "Just slathering it on and doing nothing else isn't going to cut it because, even with sunscreen, there's still up to a 50 percent risk that you'll burn."

You also need to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when sunlight is strongest; cover up with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses; do regular skin self-exams; and get a professional skin evaluation annually.

Myth No. 2: SPF measures levels of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.

Reality: The SPF (sun protection factor) measures only the level of protection against UVB rays. But several of the 16 active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in sunscreens also block or absorb UVA rays, says Warwick L. Morison, M.D., professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins Medical School and chairman of the Skin Cancer Foundation's Photobiology Committee.

Ingredients include: avobenzone (Parsol 1789), octocrylene, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide, as well as the recently approved Mexoryl SX. Make sure one of these is in your sunscreen, or look for products labeled "broad spectrum," which means they protect against UVB and UVA rays.

Myth No. 3: Some sunscreens can protect all day.

Reality: "Regardless of the SPF or what the label says, sunscreens must be reapplied every two hours," Fusco says. "The active ingredients in most products begin to break down when exposed to the sun." Only physical blockers such as zinc oxide stay potent after two hours, but not all sunscreens are made with these ingredients.

Myth No. 4: Some sunscreens are waterproof.

Reality: The FDA does not recognize the term "waterproof," so don't count on sunscreen to last through hours of swimming. The agency does recognize "water/sweat/perspiration resistant" (which means a product offers SPF protection after 40 minutes of exposure to water) and "very water/sweat/perspiration resistant" (which means it still protects after 80 minutes). To be safe, reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating.

Myth No. 5: A sunscreen can provide "total sunblock."

Reality: "No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of UV rays," Fusco says. An SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of UV rays, SPF 30 protects against 97 percent, and SPF 50 wards off 98 percent. You should slather two tablespoons on your body a half-hour before going outside, so the sunscreen has time to absorb into your skin.

 

[SnowHot]

I don't tend to use sunscreen much mostly because I tan easily and don't tend to burn. Because I spend so much time skiing in the winter, my face rarely burns.
One Exception however was the trip to ABasin. I was cautioned by many to take the sun seriously due to the elevation, sun, and reflection of the snow, and I'm happy I did. I used Dermatone with an SPF 25, and was happy I did. I had a touch of pink but mostly I was good.

Quality products and sensible use can make all the difference

 

[joycemocha]

I've also found that--surprisingly, my SPF 30 moisturizer works very well for skiing. No burns!

(Elizabeth Arden is good stuff...)

 

[altagirl]

I don't burn super easily, but I love using the sticks of sunblock that are about like the consistency of chapstick (the Neutrogena one is my favorite) because they have the secondary benefit of helping to prevent frostbite/windburn. That and the winter conditions and dry air around here really suck the moisture out of my face, so it works really well.

Might be totally different if I lived somewhere humid, but it might be worth considering if you're traveling out west where the dry air is a shock.

 

[Jilly]

Having been a president of the local Cancer Society I totally agree with the statements that SkiDiva has listed. I myself am of English, Welsh and Scot heritage, so I just burn. I've been using a form of sunscreen all my life. Right now I like a waterproof, SPF of 30 or 45, lotion. During the winter I use a stick on my face and continue with it in the summer on the boats. I like a product that I don't think you can get in the states - Ombrelle. The stick I use is "President's Choice" a grocery store brand, but got to be made similar to somebody's elses.

 

[SnowHot]

This is the product I have and it seemed to work fine for me. I agree that the sticks are nicer to keep on hand and don't leave that greasy feeling on the face.
I can't really compare myself to those who burn easily because that is just not an issue with me. When I do burn, it turns to tan in a short time.

 

[persee]

If only I just burned... However for the last 6-10 years I have discovered that no longer do I turn nice and red like a lobster, but I now get sun-poisoning. This means I only turn a little pink but my skin gets itchy and painful anywhere which was exposed.

So now I always wear spf 45 (usually Aveeno as I find that it does not leave my skin feeling greasy) when I will be outside for more than just a few minutes. For skiing since I always wear a helmet and goggles I don't have too much of an area on which to slather it but summer activities I can spend a good 5-10 minutes coating myself.

 

[num]

I've only started using sunscreen very recently. I've spent a good amount of my life in the sun (lifeguarding, etc) and I haven't had a burn in my life, so I never really thought I had to worry about sun until I saw research showing the climbing rates of skin cancer in people of color. Eek.

So I started using sunscreen. It's hard to be dilligent about somethign that you don't see or feel any effects from. I feel like I wouldn't have trouble remembering to reapply if I turned red or hurt, but I just try to keep the looming threat of skin cancer in mind.

Olay has a campaign going with dermasurgeons and dermatologists to provide free skin cancer screenings to the public. Check it out https://skincancertakesfriends.org/skincancer/getScreened.jsp

 

[SnowHot]

Has anyone caught the TV news the past few days of the SPF factors not being accurate, and knowing the ingredients that work is the key to picking the right sun screen.

They say, looking for Zinc or Titanium in the ingredients will give you more protection than the SPF rate!